12/4 Grunt sculpin, wolf recovery, auto fuel standards, no old growth harvest, Carney's corridor, democracy watch

 

Editor's note: Thanks to readers who stepped up on Giving Tuesday to support Salish Current and nonprofit local news that can be trusted and read without a paywall. We met our national NewsMatch challenge and will next meet a $50,000 local challenge put forth by local supporters. Will you help meet that match challenge with a donation to our 2X NewsMatch? [salish-current.org/donate] Please donate. Thank you!

Grunt sculpin [Wikipedia]

Grunt sculpin Rhamphocottus richardsonii
The grunt sculpin or grunt-fish is a small fish mainly found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The grunt sculpin generally remains close to shore and is often found in empty giant barnacle shells. The common name comes from reports that the fish vibrate or "grunt" when held. Its defining feature is its tendency to "hop" along the ocean floor on its orange fins. The short, stout body of the grunt sculpin has a long, small mouth which is adapted for eating smaller prey. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Behind closed doors: How the Port conducts public business in private

Conservation group to sue feds over lack of national wolf recovery plan
Conservation groups are gearing up to take the federal government to court to preserve the protected status of gray wolves across the country. The Center for Biological Diversity in a Tuesday letter, informed the U.S. Wildlife Service that it intends to file a lawsuit alleging the agency violated the Endangered Species Act by not preparing a national gray wolf recovery plan. Michah Drew reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Trump administration rolls back fuel economy standards
The Trump administration has started the process of dramatically easing fuel economy requirements for new vehicles, part of the administration's broader pivot away from cleaner cars. At the White House on Wednesday, surrounded by the executives from several major car companies, President Trump said the move would save consumers money by making cars cheaper.  Camila Domonoske reports. (NPR) 

Eby says no to harvesting old growth for pulp to extend life of B.C. mill
The British Columbia government is looking for ways to help a pulp mill closing on Vancouver Island, Premier David Eby said Wednesday, but logging the province's old-growth forests for pulp is not an option. (Canadian Press) 

Thinking critically about Carney’s proposed conservation corridor in northwest B.C.
The federal government says both extraction and conservation are key to the B.C. “corridor” it’s focused on. But the scarce information provided focuses on minerals and energy, not wildlife or Indigenous-led protection plans. Matt Simmons writes. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration puts a hold on immigration applications from 19 nations (Washington State Standard) 
• DOJ announces it’s suing Washington for not handing over voter rolls (The Olympian) 
• White House renames building the ‘Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace’ (Washington Post) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  321 PM PST Wed Dec 3 2025    
THU  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  13 seconds. Rain.  
THU NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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12/3 Yew, stalking seabirds, BC pipe, eelgrass meadow, glacier photos, democracy watch

Pacific yew

Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia
The Pacific Yew is also called the Western Yew or sometimes the Oregon Yew.  Brevifolia means short leaves. The Pacific Yew is found from British Columbia to Northern California from the coast to the Cascades, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas and the western slope of the Rockies in B.C., Idaho and Montana. Yew wood was prized in both the old world and the new world for its strength and elasticity.  Loggers who were after the larger Douglas Fir, Hemlock and other trees of old growth forests did not have much regard for the Pacific Yew and many were destroyed in the process of harvesting the larger trees.  The plight of the Pacific Yew gained attention in the 1980s when it was discovered that its bark yielded the effective cancer-fighting drug, Taxol. (Native Plants of the PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Can a new plan help revitalize Point Roberts’ economy?

Orcas stalk seabirds to hone hunting skills: researchers 
Bigg’s orcas were observed stalking seabirds in Puget Sound last month, a behaviour that researchers believe wasn’t hunting, but a practice to help them sharpen their hunting skills — and a form of play. Darron Kloster reports.(Suquamish Chief) 

Assembly of First Nations calls for withdrawal of Canada-Alberta pipeline deal 
Assembly of First Nations chiefs voted unanimously on Tuesday to demand the withdrawal of a new pipeline deal between Canada and Alberta, while expressing full support for First Nations on the British Columbia coast that strongly oppose the initiative. Brett Forester reports. (CBC)  

Snorkeling an Eelgrass Meadow
Apropos to yesterday's bay pipefish critter profile, Chris Rurik shares Part 1 of his survey of the state's most successful eelgrass restoration project to date. (Infinite Peninsula) 

Historic glacier photos hint at the future
One woman's devotion to documenting these huge ice formations in the late 1800s sheds light on what the PNW will look like when they are gone. Knute Berger writes. (CascadePBS) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration says it will withhold SNAP from Democrat-led states if they don’t provide data (AP) 
• White House intensifies push for mass deportation after National Guard shooting (Washington State Standard) 
• Trump says he doesn’t want Somalis in the US, urges them to go back to their homeland and fix it (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  259 PM PST Tue Dec 2 2025    
WED  SE wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft  at 14 seconds. A chance of rain.  
WED NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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12/2 Bay pipefish, pipeline restarted, Exxon Valdez spill, oil tanker ban, marmot rebound, democracy watch

 

Editor's note: It's called Giving Tuesday and I hope the day prompts you to make a donation to support Salish Current and nonprofit local news everyone can trust and read without paywall. Please donate. [salish-current.org/donate] Thank you!. Mike.

Bay pipefish

Bay pipefish Syngnathus leptorhynchus
The bay pipefish is a pipefish native to the eelgrass beds of the Eastern Pacific, where its sinuous shape and green color allow it to blend in with the waving blades of eelgrass. They have an elongated, slim body along with weak dorsal fins and pectoral fins for locomotion. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: New story for old newspaper building

BP’s Olympic Pipeline fully restarts after 2-week shutdown 
BP’s Olympic Pipeline returned to full service on Saturday after a leak triggered a two-week shutdown.  and leading Washington and Oregon’s governors to issue emergencies over the disruption of fuel. The company has recovered almost 2,300 gallons of oil and is continuing cleanup efforts. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Why the disastrous 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill looms large over northern pipeline debate
The Exxon Valdez disaster happened more than 36 years ago off Alaska's coast, but the catastrophic oil spill still looms over plans for a pipeline from Alberta to the northern British Columbia coast. Wolfgang Depner reports. (Canadian Press) 

Explainer: Canada’s oil tanker ban was aimed at Alaska
Canada's moratorium on oil tanker traffic off B.C.'s North Coast, which has existed since the 1970s but was only formalized into law in 2019, has been a key barrier to new oil pipeline proposals in the northwest. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Charity celebrates milestone as Vancouver Island marmots rebound to 427 in wild
The Marmot Recovery Foundation announced on its social media page that the population of the Vancouver Island species has reached a new high of 427 marmots. When its team first began releasing marmots to the wild in 2003, there were just 22 remaining. Nono Shen reports. (Canadian Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Outlets that reach millions denied access to rare Pentagon news briefings this week (AP) 
• For the first time since 1988, the U.S. is not officially commemorating World AIDS Day (NPR) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  246 PM PST Mon Dec 1 2025    
TUE  NW wind around 5 kt, veering to NE in the afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 7 seconds and W 6 ft at  15 seconds.  
TUE NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 15 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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11/30 Isopod, president's prize. BC pipe, BC LNG, Kicking Gas, controlled burns, solar farms, grey whale return, democracy watch, week in review

 

Editor's note: Please join in supporting nonprofit local news reporting that is free to read without paywall with a donation to the Salish Current 2X NewsMatch Campaign. [salishcurrent.org/donate] Thank you.

Rockweed isopod

Rockweed isopod Idotea wosnesenskii
They are large isopods, measuring up to 3-4 cm long and quite dark. Generally their color is olive-green but it may vary from bright green to brown or nearly black. You can find it under rocks, under cobble at the edges of tide pools, in blades of seaweed, attached to floats and on eelgrass. Hangs onto holdfasts stalks, worm tubes and other objects. But the most common place is under rocks on the shore. Ranges from Alaska (and Russia) to Estero Bay, San Luis Obispo County. (Race Rocks Taxonomy) 

Today's top story in Salish Current: Skagit County critical areas plan sees updates

Edmonds students win President’s Environmental Youth Award for their Salish Sea documentary
Four former Hazelwood Elementary fourth and fifth-grade students helped create a documentary highlighting the Edmonds Underwater Park, a marine protected area located just off the city’s shore. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

A guide to Carney’s pipeline deal — and the climate policies it weakens
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith have signed an agreement to advance Alberta’s pipeline dreams — and weaken at least seven climate policies. Carl Meyer and Drew Anderson write. (The Narwhal) 

Carney-Smith Pipeline Plan Is Slammed in BC
While the federal and Alberta governments have agreed on conditional approval for a bitumen pipeline to B.C.’s northwest coast, B.C. Premier David Eby said it doesn’t deal with the reasons he opposes the project. The proposed pipeline has “no proponent, no route, no money, no First Nations support,” he said. Andrew MacLeod and Amanda Follett Hosgood report. (The Tyee) 

Hodgson says it's 'premature' to draw conclusions about B.C. tanker ban fate
"What the MOU says is there will be a deepwater port with access to Asia," says Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson. "It does not say which port, on what part of the coast." Nick Murray reports. (Canadian Press) 

LNG Is the ‘Elephant in the Room’ at BC Climate Plan Update
B.C.’s CleanBC climate plan to lower carbon emissions and reduce global warming is working, but exists alongside a massive “elephant in the room” — the province’s burgeoning liquefied natural gas industry and the potential it will undermine emissions reduction efforts. Amanda Follett Hosgood and Zoë Yunker report. (The Tyee) 

Climate justice group Kicking Gas is expanding efforts to Snohomish County
The Whidbey Island-based climate justice group Kicking Gas is expanding its mission of helping households transition to electric appliances across Snohomish County, supporting the switch by covering up to 75% of installation costs. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Amid climate impacts in B.C., leading Secwépemc firekeeper shares ‘a better way of looking after the land’
In a time of worsening wildfires, Joe Gilchrist says cultural burning ‘needs to be multiplied hundreds of times’ — returning forests to Indigenous stewardship. Aaron Hemens reports. (IndigiNews/The Narwhal) 

Building resilience: How landowners and land managers are working to educate people on prescribed burns
On a wooded property near the small community of Viola in north Idaho, the air is hot and thick with smoke. Volunteers are here for a controlled burn, where fire is intentionally started to reduce wildfire risk and improve ecological health. The team is made up of university students, professors and staff from local lumber companies and forest management groups. Rachel Sun reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

This new innovation could make solar farms more wildlife friendly
At a proposed solar installation in southern Oregon, the renewable energy company Invenergy has plans to build a wildlife corridor and a nearly 2,000-acre conservation area to help offset the ecological impacts of industrial-scale construction in a largely undeveloped wilderness. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Standard) 

‘Unusual timing’: Beloved grey whale is back feeding in B.C. instead of Mexico this winter
A well-known grey whale is back feeding in British Columbia for the second time this year, with whale watchers saying its winter apperance marks a change in its normal migration pattern. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Democracry Watch

• Trump says he wants to ‘permanently pause’ migration to the US from poorer countries (AP) 
• Blaming some child deaths on covid shots, FDA vows stricter vaccine rules (Washington Post) 
• Trump cut tariffs on these five foods. It’s too late to stop price hikes. (Washington Post) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/30/25: Rosa Parks, watershed rights, Makah whaling, pipeline penalty, air pollution rule, BC herring, president's prize, Kicking Gas. 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  206 AM PST Sun Nov 30 2025    
MON  SE wind around 5 kt, veering to S in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 16 seconds. A chance of rain in  the morning, then rain in the afternoon.  
MON NIGHT  S wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to NW after midnight.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 16 seconds. Rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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11/26 Turkey vulture, BC herring, air pollution rule, hearing whales, WA State Parks, ice breakers, WA pipeline, democracy watch

 

Editor's note: I'm thankful for news I can read and trust, and for reporters, editors and publishers who do their jobs with diligence and dedication. And I'm thankful for readers who support the exercise of the true free press. What are you thankful for?  A happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend to you. See you in December. M.

Turkey vulture

Turkey vulture Cathartes aura
A familiar sight in the sky over much of North America is the dark, long-winged form of the Turkey Vulture, soaring high over the landscape. Most birds are believed to have a very poor sense of smell, but the Turkey Vulture is an exception, apparently able to find carrion by odor. (Audubon Field Guide

Today's top story in Salish Current: Quiet crisis: selling gray-market drugs to our kids

Legal challenge looming as Island First Nation fights for BC’s herring stocks
First Nations and conservation groups in British Columbia are rallying for an immediate ban to herring fishing, warning the fish is vanishing from the Salish Sea — but the fisheries department insists the numbers tell a different story. Sonal Gupta reports. (National Observer) 

EPA to abandon air pollution rule that would prevent thousands of U.S. deaths
The Environmental Protection Agency will no longer defend Biden-era limits on fine-particle pollution, which causes heart and lung disease. Amudalat Ajasa reports. (Washington Post) 

Meet the B.C. residents hosting whale detection devices on their properties 
People living on B.C.’s coast are offering up their private properties to host technology that can detect whales, in hopes of safeguarding the marine mammals that pass through. The camera points out towards the Malaspina Strait, and a hydrophone was dropped into the ocean 20 metres deep, picking up underwater noise from vessels and animals. Anna Kelly reports. (CBC)  

WA state parks to no longer offer free admission on Black Friday
Black Friday is a chance to work off all you’ve stuffed yourself with, whether you’re dashing down aisles hunting discounts or gathering family and friends for a hike through nature. But this year, you may want to double-check before you go on a nature hike, as admissions to Washington’s more than 140 state parks will no longer be free on Black Friday. Kai Uyehara reports. (Seattle Times) 

As the Arctic heats up, US Coast Guard’s icebreaker fleet is preparing for boom times
Within sight of the Space Needle, three eye-catching red icebreakers towered over Pier 36. It was the first time since 2006 that the Coast Guard has had three active icebreakers in the same place at the same time. In the coming years, that scene will become more common, and not just in Seattle. After years of underfunding, the Coast Guard’s icebreaker fleet is undergoing a massive expansion, with almost $9 billion for new ships. James Brooks and Tom Banse report. (Washington State Standard) 

Fuel flowing after Olympic Pipeline leak disrupted Sea-Tac flights 
Fuel is flowing again after a spill from BP’s Olympic Pipeline led to a nearly two-week shutdown, disrupting jet fuel deliveries to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. There are two pipelines at the site of the spill: a 16-inch and a 20-inch pipeline. Tests conducted Monday found a leak in the 20-inch pipeline, and repair plans are being developed. The 16-inch pipeline restarted Tuesday morning, according to BP. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Some DACA recipients have been arrested in the Trump’s immigration crackdown (AP) 
• Doctor Critical of Vaccines Quietly Appointed as C.D.C.’s Second in Command (NY Times) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—  
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  204 PM PST Tue Nov 25 2025    
WED  S wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming E 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 4 seconds and  W 5 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely in the afternoon.  
WED NIGHT  E wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E  4 ft at 5 seconds and W 6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


11/25 Madrone, near-sinking barge, pipeline fine, BC timber access, Wells Dam, democracy watch

 

Arbutus

Madrone Arbutus menziesii
Arbutus favors open, sunny places along rocky bluffs and canyons. Named in 1814 in honor of the pioneer botanist Archibald Menzies who recorded it when he came ashore in 1792 at Port Discovery. Another name, madrone, is commonly used. It arose from a Spanish priest noting in 1769 there were many "madrons" when he likened the tree to the related madrono or strawberry tree of the Mediterranean. (Trees & Shrubs of Washington)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Higher taxes and fewer employees / Observations on Whatcom County election results

Near-sinking barge off B.C. coast stokes fears over oil tanker threats
An American-owned cargo barge sitting dangerously low in the water near Bella Bella has reignited coastal First Nations’ fears about the dangers that oil tankers pose for the B.C. coast. The Haíɫzaqv are still “reeling” from a devastating diesel spill after the tug Nathan E. Stewart ran aground in Heiltsuk waters in October 2016. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer) 

Pipeline companies fined $3.8 million for 2023 gasoline spill near Conway
Washington Department of Ecology has issued a $3.8 million penalty to Olympic Pipe Line Company LLC and BP Pipelines (North America) Inc. for the release of 21,000 gallons of gasoline from the Olympic Pipeline near Conway in December 2023, sending 4,000 gallons to a nearby fish-bearing stream and resulting in a school to close temporarily. Ecology is also seeking to recover its response costs of $822,162. The natural resource damage assessment and restoration is still under evaluation by state and tribal trust agencies. The $3.8 million penalty is the second issued to the pipeline in the last five years. The pipeline was fined $100,000 for a 2020 leak that released 67 gallons of diesel fuel. The current spill response on the Olympic Pipe Line near Everett is ongoing. (Dept of Ecology) 

Why a lack of access to timber is leading to B.C. mill closures, job losses 
West Fraser Timber Co. announced it would shut its mill in 100 Mile House by the end of the year, saying it couldn't reliably access enough economically viable timber either locally or further afield. Its closure will put more than 165 people out of work as a result. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

Should this dam on the Columbia River be certified ‘Low Impact’?
The Wells Dam Hydroelectric Project lies on the Columbia River near the Washington cities of Pateros and Bridgeport roughly 500 miles from the river’s mouth at the Pacific Ocean. Tribes, environmental groups and the state of Washington challenge Douglas County PUD’s bid for low impact certification for Wells Dam. Nathan Gilles reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Democracy Watch

• Judge dismisses Comey, James indictments after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed (AP) 
• Pentagon says it’s investigating Sen. Mark Kelly over video urging troops to defy ‘illegal orders’ (AP) 
• Trump administration plans to review refugees admitted under Biden, memo obtained by The AP says (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—  T
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  205 PM PST Mon Nov 24 2025    
TUE  E wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at  4 seconds and W 5 ft at 12 seconds. Rain. TUE NIGHT  E wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 5 seconds and W  2 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


11/24 Quail, Snohomish R rights, Nooksack R flood, Makah whaling, BC tanker ban, Rockpool Project, democracy watch

 

Editor's note: Please support Salish Current with a donation [salish-current.org/donate]. Your donation makes possible reporting local news that can be trusted and read by all without paywall. Thank you, Mike.

California quail

California quail Callipepla californica
This sharply-marked bird with the curving topknot is common along the California coast and in a few other areas of the west. It has adapted rather well to the increasing human population, and is often found around well-wooded suburbs and even large city parks. California Quail live in coveys at most seasons, and are often seen strutting across clearings, nodding their heads at each step. If disturbed, they may burst into fast low flight on whirring wings. (Audubon Field Guide)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Planning board postpones agritourism recommendation

Can a watershed have legal rights? The Snohomish River debate deepens
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Langbehn ruled Tuesday that a voter-approved initiative making the Snohomish River a “rights-bearing entity” and giving community members the right to go to court on the watershed’s behalf was invalid. The environmental group that went to court to defend the initiative, Standing for Nature, said it will appeal the decision. (KUOW) 

Political Strife May Doom Talks to Prevent a Future Nooksack Flood 
In November 2021, the Nooksack River breached its banks in northern Washington, sending a torrent of water towards the Fraser Valley. Even before the 2021 disaster, officials in Abbotsford hoped they could persuade the Americans to build a dike along the north bank of the Nooksack. Cross-border talks, which have been ongoing since 2023, have involved local officials, B.C. and Washington state. But the Canadian and U.S. federal governments have not taken part — even when the two countries enjoyed a better relationship before President Donald Trump took office. Tyler Olsen reports. (The Tyee) 

Makah Tribe’s treaty-protected whaling rights remain blocked 
Despite the Makah Tribe’s success in getting a waiver to carry out their exclusive treaty right for whaling, the permitting process that had dragged on for over 20 years has now been effectively delayed another year and a half because of bogged-down federal bureaucracy. (Bellamy Paithorp and Luna Reyna report. (KNKX) 

The Oil Tanker Ban That Dims Alberta’s Pipeline Hopes
As the federal government works toward a deal with Alberta to ship crude from the oilsands through northern British Columbia, it will have to navigate a long-standing agreement to keep oil tankers away from B.C.’s north coast. While the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act became law in 2019, its history dates back more than 50 years to Canada’s first Prime Minister Trudeau, plans for an Alaskan oil pipeline and fears about what a spill on the west coast could mean for the economy and First Nations communities of B.C.’s northwest. Amanda Follett Hosgood report. (The Tyee) 

Rock pooling competition held to find rare species
The Rockpool Project held its first Somerset competition at Kilve Beach earlier, where participants raced against time to identify wildlife and score points for the species they discover. The project hopes to gather valuable data on biodiversity in rock pool beaches. Clara Bullock and Dan Ayers report. (BBC) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump allows more foreign ag workers, eases off ICE raids on farms (Washington State Standard) 
• Aftermath of Chicago’s intense immigration crackdown leaves lawsuits, investigations and anxiety (AP) 
• Supreme Court blocks order that found Texas congressional map is likely racially biased (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  242 PM PST Sun Nov 23 2025    
MON  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  13 seconds. Showers likely, mainly in the morning.  
MON NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening, then a  chance of rain after midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


11/21 Acidification, coast oil drilling, WA gas pipeline, logging gray squirrels, Discover Pass, democracy watch, week in review

Editor's note: Before the holidays overtake us, I'm asking if you'd consider a donation to Salish Current, our other nonprofit, local news publication where News & Weather appears. The Current is also free to read but pays its editors and freelancers. Once a year I ask the readers of News & Weather to join with the readers of Salish Current to help meet a 2X News Match Challenge to support local news that is free for all to read. More than ever, local news in these troubled times is important. Please donate. Thank you. Mike

 

Wild turkey [Mick Thompson]

Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo
The wild turkey is an upland game bird native to North America, one of two extant species of turkey and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the domestic turkey, which was originally derived from a southern Mexican subspecies of wild turkey. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Sedro-Woolley English teachers bring AI literacy into the classroom

Ocean acidification to hit Puget Sound harder, study says 
The waters of Puget Sound are more susceptible to ocean acidification and sliding faster into dangerous territory for its marine wildlife than other places around the world, a new study shows. Should the trend continue, our marine wildlife and fisheries will likely suffer greatly years or decades earlier than previously anticipated. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times) 

Trump administration announces plan for new oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida
The Trump administration announced on Thursday new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades, advancing a project that critics say could harm coastal communities and ecosystems, as President Donald Trump seeks to expand U.S. oil production. Matthew Brown and Matthew Daly report. (Associated Press) 

Emergency declared as Northwest’s main oil pipeline shuts down again
The Northwest’s primary oil pipeline has shut down for the second time in a week, this time leading Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson to declare an emergency. For the next 14 days, Ferguson’s emergency proclamation allows fuel-truck drivers serving the airport to work longer hours than safety requirements usually allow. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Forests minister defends B.C. logging. Experts say clearcuts are still a problem
Research shows clear-cutting increases the risk of floods and wildfires. B.C.’s Forests ministry says it’s ‘a viable and appropriate’ way to log. Sharon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Discover Pass sales dip after price increase
Sales of Washington’s pass to access state parks and other recreation areas fell after an Oct. 1 price hike, but fee collections increased. The number of passes sold showed a 23% compared to last year but revenue from the passes climbed 16% year-over-year due to a $15 price increase. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington Stat Standard) 

Logging projects still imperiling endangered western gray squirrels
Washington’s western gray squirrels are in trouble. The tree-climbing rodents, not to be confused with invasive eastern gray squirrels, have just three populations in the state. Each faces threats to survival. This hasn’t stopped the state’s Department of Natural Resources from permitting two new logging projects in western gray squirrel habitat in Klickitat County in southern Washington, a stronghold for the species. Nick Englefried reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Democracy Watch

• Judge orders Trump administration to end National Guard deployment in DC (AP) 
• Coast Guard reverses course on policy to call swastikas and nooses ‘potentially divisive’ (AP) 
• Under Trump, U.S. human rights reports will flag abortion, gender care (Washington Post) 
• Department of Education hands off key programs without consulting tribes as required (ICT) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review, Nov. 21, 2025: Cranberry Friday!, halibut fishing, immigrant detention, Clean Water Act, BC flood prevention, jet fuel spill, Bear Gulch Fire, 'blanket rule' rollback, ship sinking, ocean acid, coast oil drilling. 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.in 

Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  202 AM PST Fri Nov 21 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON    
TODAY  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft, subsiding to 5 to  7 ft this afternoon. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 13 seconds. A chance  of rain early this morning, then rain late this morning and  afternoon.  
TONIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W  8 ft at 14 seconds. Rain. Patchy fog. SAT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at  15 seconds. Patchy dense fog in the morning. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 3 seconds and W 8 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at  14 seconds. Rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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11/20 Horse clam, 'blanket rule' rollback, data center energy, BC timber harvest, cargo ship sinking, Erik Kingfisher, DNR climate accounting, democracy watch

Horse clam [WDFW]

   
Horse clam Tresus capax
The Horse clam, or Fat gaper, has a wide hole where the siphon (neck) extends from the shells. Horse clams are not able to fully retract their siphon into their shells. The tip of the siphon has leather-like plates, often with algae or barnacles attached to them. It typically hosts 1 or 2 pea crabs and emits a stream of water when exposed and disturbed at low tide. It is found from Cook Inlet, AK south to Oceano, CA. (WDFW

Today's top story in Salish Current: Communities feel pressure as food banks face challenges

Trump administration seeks to roll back protections for imperiled species and habitat 
President Donald Trump’s administration moved Wednesday to roll back protections for imperiled species and the places they live, proposing elimination of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “blanket rule” that automatically protects animals and plants when they are classified as threatened. Government agencies instead would have to craft species-specific rules for protections, a potentially lengthy process. Matthew Brown and Susan Montoya Bryan report. (Associated Press) 

Ending tanker ban risks billions, B.C. minister says, as pipeline talks heat up
British Columbia's jobs minister says ending a tanker ban to service a pipeline from Alberta to B.C.'s northern coast would put billions of dollars' worth of other projects at risk by defying the wishes of First Nations, and that the tanker ban on the northern B.C. coast can't change without provincial and First Nations consent. Wolfgang Depner and David Baxter report. (Canadian Press) 

Wash. Data Center Workgroup won’t recommend clean energy requirement
The Washington Data Center Workgroup convened by Gov. Bob Ferguson will release a report on Dec.1 adopting policy commendations for data industries in the state which will not, according to workgroup member Zachariah Baker, regional and state policy director for the NW Energy Coalition, require data centers to use clean energy when they’re built, or soon after. K.C. Mehaffey reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Leaked report claims B.C. timber harvest is vastly overestimated
An undisclosed report obtained by BIV estimates the province is likely approving twice as much logging than can be sustainably harvested. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist) 

Seattle-bound barge loaded with containers and vehicles sinking off B.C. coast
A barge carrying numerous cargo containers is sinking in the waters off British Columbia's central coast, and the local First Nation says there is concern about possible pollution because it's unclear what's on board. Chuck Chiang reports. (Canadian Press) 

Land trust director gets environmental award
Erik Kingfisher, Jefferson Land Trust’s Director of Stewardship and Resilience, received the 2025 Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership award at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center’s annual stewardship breakfast. Elijah Sussman reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

DNR appeals ruling that it must account for climate change in individual timber sales
TThe Washington Department of Natural Resources argued its appeal by challenging a 2024 King County court decision that the agency must evaluate climate impacts for each timber sale under the State Environmental Policy Act.  The appeal calls into question the priorities of newly appointed Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Democracy Watch

• Migrants thought they were in court for a routine hearing. Instead, it was a deportation trap (AP) 
• After Shutdown, Labor Department Says Some Data is Gone for Good (NY Times) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  218 PM PST Wed Nov 19 2025    SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT    
THU  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 7 to 10 ft in the  afternoon. Wave Detail: W 10 ft at 16 seconds. A chance of rain.  
THU NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: W 10 ft at 15 seconds.  Rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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11/19/25 Pacific salamander, lead recyclng, jet fuel spill, deer kill, Bear Gulch fire, BC power line, democracy watch

Pacific giant salamander [Wikipedia]

Pacific giant salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus 
The Pacific giant salamander is a large, stocky, marbled gold and brown salamander with a rounded snout, indistinct costal grooves, and a laterally compressed tail. The largest terrestrial salamander in North America; adults reach lengths of 6.7 inches snout-vent length and 13.4 inches total length. Pacific giant salamanders are primarily associated with small to medium-sized mountain streams in moist coniferous forests. In Washington, Pacific giant salamanders occur primarily west of the Cascade Crest in the Pacific Coast, Puget Trough and West Cascades ecoregions. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Salmon Summit captures latest in restoration and recovery

Recycling Lead for U.S. Car Batteries Is Poisoning People
Poisonous dust falls from the sky over the town of Ogijo, near Lagos, Nigeria. It coats kitchen floors, vegetable gardens, churchyards and schoolyards. The toxic soot billows from crude factories that recycle lead for American companies. With every breath, people inhale invisible lead particles and absorb them into their bloodstream. The metal seeps into their brains, wreaking havoc on their nervous systems. It damages livers and kidneys. Toddlers ingest the dust by crawling across floors, playgrounds and backyards, then putting their hands in their mouths. This dirty lead goes into American cars. Peter S. Goodman, Will Fitzgibbon and Samuel Granados report. (NY Times) 

Jet fuel spill shuts down Northwest's main oil pipeline
Spill-response crews planned to start digging up a blueberry farm near Everett on Tuesday to find the cause of a jet-fuel spill that shut down the Pacific Northwest’s primary oil pipeline. The farm sits on the route of the Olympic Pipeline, a mostly underground, 400-mile system of pipes owned by BP. It carries gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from four refineries on the shores of Puget Sound to Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Renton, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Portland. John Ryan reports. 

Deer are destroying B.C. island ecosystems. Indigenous hunting could be the solution
A new study finds hyperabundant deer are pushing rare ecosystems to collapse, and Indigenous hunting could be te most effective path to recovery. Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood reports. (The Narwhal) https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-gulf-islands-deer-study/

Bear Gulch Fire fully contained after four months and 20,000 acres burned
The Bear Gulch Fire was 100% contained as of Nov. 6, according to the official fire update webpage managed by the USDA Forest Service. Since July 6, the human-caused fire has burned 20,232 acres in Olympic National Forest. Ty Vinson reports. (Olympian) 

B.C.’s ‘economic engine’ is revving — but do we need the power?
The provincial government has made big claims about the benefits the North Coast transmission line will bring. But it won‘t say much beyond that. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch

• Federal judges block Texas from using its new US House map in the 2026 midterms (AP) 
• Everyone on SNAP will need to reapply for benefits, Trump official says (OregonLive) 
• Education Department takes a major step forward in the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle it (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  208 PM PST Tue Nov 18 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH  WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON    
WED  E wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft at  5 seconds and W 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the  afternoon.  
WED NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 4 ft at 13 seconds. Rain likely.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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11/18 Red octopus, shrinking CWA. BC flood prevention, wolves with tools, SnoCo fire plan, life down under, democracy watch

 

Pacific red octopus [Wikipedia]

Pacific red octopus Octopus rubescens 
The East Pacific red octopus, also known as the ruby octopus, is the most commonly occurring shallow-water octopus on much of the North American West Coast and a ubiquitous benthic predator.] Its range extends from the southern Gulf of California to at least the Gulf of Alaska, but may also occur in the western Pacific Ocean. )Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Basking shark working group tallies sightings in Salish Sea, beyond 

EPA moves to limit scope of clean water law to reduce amount of wetlands it covers
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday it is redefining the scope of the nation’s bedrock clean water law to significantly limit the wetlands it covers, building on a Supreme Court decision two years ago that removed federal protections for vast areas. When finalized, the new “Waters of the United States” rule will ensure that federal jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act is focused on relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water, such as streams, oceans, rivers and lakes, along with wetlands that are directly connected to such bodies of water, the EPA said. Matthew Brown reports. (Associated Press) 

BC’s Flood Prevention Promises Remain Unfulfilled
Four years after flooding devastated several British Columbia communities, key government promises made in the wake of the disaster remain unfulfilled. Tyler Olsen reports. (The Tyee) 

Researchers observe wild wolves using tools near Bella Bella
A female wolf learned to pull fully submerged crab traps out of the water and eat the bait inside in what could be the first known potential tool use in wild wolves. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Snohomish County adopts its first Community Wildfire Protection Plan
The document analyzes wildfire risks throughout the county and provides resources for people to engage with wildfire resiliency work. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Life Finds a Way, Even on Inactive Hydrothermal Vents
In the darkness of the deep sea, animals flourish on hydrothermal vents that have gone cold. Elyse Hauser reports. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• Judge scolds Justice Department for ‘profound investigative missteps’ in Comey case (AP)
  
• Hundreds of National Guard troops deployed to Portland and Chicago are being sent home (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—  West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  218 PM PST Mon Nov 17 2025    
TUE  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  11 seconds and W 2 ft at 17 seconds. A chance of showers in the  morning.  
TUE NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 15 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.org. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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11/17 Coyote, halibut fishing, BC LNG, housing detainees, Snohomish shoreline, AK refuge road, no wolf recovery plan, democracy watch

 

Editor's note: Apologies for the broken links to the 'donate' page. Fixed today. 
Salish Sea News and Weather is free to read because it's my voluntary contribution to the community good. Our other publication, Salish Current, is a nonprofit, local news publication that's also free to read but pays its editors and freelancers. Once a year I ask the readers of News and Weather to join with the readers of Salish Current to make a recurring monthly donation or a one-time donation to support local news that is free for all to read. More than ever, local news in these troubled times is important. Please donate. Thank you. Mike

Coyote

Coyote Canis latrans
Coyotes have naturally expanded their range in North America and have adapted well to human-dominated habitats. They are present across nearly all of Washington, including many urban and suburban parks, greenbelts, and other wooded spaces. At first glance, the coyote resembles a small German shepherd dog, yet its color can vary from animal to animal. Adult coyotes weigh 20 to 35 pounds, with males being slightly larger than females. At the shoulder, an adult male coyote is about 25 inches tall. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Chorale's ‘Lest We Forget’ to recall the past, evoke hope

WA and Alaska halibut fishing crews see troubling signs
Halibut stocks have plunged from record highs of the 1990s across a broad range of the North Pacific. The fishery has long been one of the economic mainstays of small-boat fishers in Alaska, British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. These fish are also prized by sport anglers, sustaining hundreds of charter boat businesses, and taken in subsistence harvests largely by Indigenous peoples. Halibut now appear to be at, or near, their lowest point of the past century. Hal Benton reports. (Seattle Times) 

‘Flare height will vary’: LNG Canada lights up the night sky in Kitimat, B.C. 
Prime Minister Mark Carney signalled his support for LNG exports in Terrace, B.C., this week, as nearby Kitimat residents learn to live beside a towering flame. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) 

ICE looks to WA tribes to house detained immigrants 
As the Trump administration searches for more space to detain immigrants, it is approaching Washington tribes to see if they will participate. The Nisqually Tribal Council said in a statement Friday evening it learned that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been talking to one of its staff members without consulting the council. Nina Shapiro reports. (Seattle Times) 

Snohomish County judge hears arguments on petition over access to the shoreline
In a motion hearing Friday, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Karen Moore heard arguments on a petition filed in September against Snohomish County over shoreline access at Hillman Place — a public right-of-way created in 1909 near Soundview Drive Northwest in Stanwood. Jenna Millikan reports.(Everett Herald) 

Tribes and environmental groups sue to stop road planned for Alaska wildlife refuge
Three tribal governments and several environmental groups sued the Trump administration on Wednesday to try to block a land trade that would allow a road to be built through a national wildlife refuge in southwestern Alaska. The land swap, approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior last month, would open up a section of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Yereth Rosen reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Feds change course, won’t issue national wolf recovery plan 
The federal government last week said it will not release a National Wolf Recovery Plan, despite announcing a plan was in the works last year, saying the species doesn’t need federal protection.  The move by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service comes as members of Congress are considering multiple bills that would delist the species from the Endangered Species Act nationwide. Micah Drew reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump scraps tariffs on beef, coffee and tropical fruit (AP) 
• Homeland Security Missions Falter Amid Focus on Deportations (NY Times) 
• Immigration crackdown inspires uniquely Chicago pushback that’s now a model for other cities (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  250 PM PST Sun Nov 16 2025   
MON  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  12 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning, then rain likely in  the afternoon.  
MON NIGHT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 11 seconds. Rain likely.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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11/14 Goose barnacle, storms, fast-tracking, fish traps, AK protection repeals, resident bird flu, 2021 heat dome, humpbacks, democracy watch, week in review

Editor's note: Salish Sea News and Weather is free to read because it's my voluntary contribution to the community good. Our other publication, Salish Current, is a nonprofit, local news publication that's also free to read but pays its editors and freelancers. Once a year I ask the readers of News and Weather to join with the readers of Salish Current to make a recurring monthly donation or a one-time donation to support local news that is free for all to read. More than ever, local news in these troubled times is important. Please donate. Thank you. Mike

Goose barnacle [Wildlife Trust]

Goose barnacle Lepas anatifera
Goose barnacles, also called percebes, turtle-claw barnacles, stalked barnacles, gooseneck barnacles, are filter-feeding crustaceans that live attached to hard surfaces of rocks and flotsam in the ocean intertidal zone. In the days before birds were known to migrate, barnacle geese, Branta leucopsis, were thought to have developed from this crustacean through spontaneous generation, since they were never seen to nest in temperate Europe,hence the English names "goose barnacle" and "barnacle goose." (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Overmarsh Farm Commons, Year One

Series of storms move in this weekend
Rainfall totals could reach up to an inch in the Puget Sound area and one to three inches in the Washington Cascades, with additional rain expected through Saturday morning. (Fox13)  Heavy rain, coastal flooding for parts of B.C.'s south coast: Environment Canada (Canadian Press) 

Ksi Lisims LNG and the North Coast transmission line will get federal fast-tracking review
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s support for the floating Ksi Lisims facility, backed by the Nisga’a government, sends a signal to potential investors in B.C.’s burgeoning LNG sector. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Banned since 1948, fish traps return to the Columbia River
This fall marks the first time in 75-plus years that a pound net fishery is operating on the Lower Columbia River. Pound nets and other “fish traps” were banned from commercial fishing on the Columbia River more than half a century ago. ake salmon fishing on the Columbia more sustainable and profitable. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Trump administration repealing protections for key swaths of Alaska petroleum reserve
The Trump administration said Thursday it is rescinding federal rules that were aimed at protecting from future oil and gas leasing vast swaths of a petroleum reserve in Alaska that provide key habitat for migrating birds, caribou and other wildlife. The U.S. Interior Department said the final rule would be published next week but announced it is repealing rules put in place last year. Becky Bohrer reports. (Associated Press) 

WA confirms first bird flu case in a resident this year 
A Grays Harbor County resident has tested preliminarily positive for avian influenza in the first human case recorded in Washington state this year. Elise Takahama reports. (Seattle Times) 

2021 heat dome left Rhode Island-sized damage in Oregon and Washington forests
Using satellite imagery, researchers have discovered that nearly 5% of Oregon and Washington’s western forest canopy — about the size of Rhode Island — was scorched and damaged in the multi-day 2021 heat dome. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard) 

The Alluring Mysteries of BC’s Humpback Whales
As their numbers grow, so do deadly human encounters. Researchers are fascinated by their songs, sexuality and collective creativity. Kerry Banks reports. (The Tyee) 

Democracy Watch

• Justice Department sues to block California US House map in clash that could tip control of Congress (AP) 
• Trump Administration Prepares Tariff Exemptions in Bid to Lower Food Prices (NY Times) 
  
• Trump administration prepares to fire worker for TV interview about SNAP (Washington Post) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/14/25: Drilling AK, Upthegrove speaks, dead humpback, Bigg's families, epic orca hunt, seismic lab, BC old growth, wildfire risks, winter sports. 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  233 AM PST Fri Nov 14 2025    
TODAY  S wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming E 10 to 15 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at  4 seconds, SW 2 ft at 11 seconds and W 5 ft at 12 seconds. A  chance of rain early this morning, then rain likely late this  morning and early afternoon. A chance of rain late.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  4 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft  at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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